Car-coupling



T. SPARKS.

Patented July 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS SPARKS, OF KENTONTOWN, KENTUGKY.

CAR-COUPLINVG.

sPEoIFIoA'rmN forming part of Letters Patent No. 281,:155, dated July 10, 1883.

Application filed April 28, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS SPARKS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kentontown, in the county of Robertson and State of Kentucky, have nvented certain new and useful lmprovements in Car- Couplngs; andI do 'deelare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such e as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the acconpanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. i

Figure 1 of the drawings is a vertical sectonal View of my cancoupler. Fig. 2 is a horizontal seotional view, and Fig. 3 is a top view of the link.

This invention has relation to car-couplings; and it consists in the construction and novel arrangenent of devices, as hereinafter set forth, and particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the acconpanying drawings, the letters A A' designate the draw-heads, which are connected to the ends of the cars by any of the methods in common use. One of the drawheads, A', may have a series of link-recesses, I b' b, arranged one above another, and designed to hold a coupling-link, C, at different heights to suit the draw-head of the opposite car. Usually these recesses are provided with rear offsets, c, of tapering form, to receive the tapering extension d at the end of the link, whereby the link is held up in horizontal position to properly enter the mouth of the opposite draw-head. A coupling-pin extends through the recesses b b' b" and serves to hold the link in engagement therewith. In the draw-head A the mouth e, which is of the usual flaring form, communicates with a recess, g, in rear, which extends upward and connunicates with a recess or slideway, h, which extends forward 'beyond the vertical aperture k, through which the coupling-pin p passes. The pinp is usually made with an upper extension, Z, of smaller diameter than the body of the pin, said extension passing through a small opening, m, in the uppernost portion of the draw-head. A shoulder, a, on

the pin therefore prevents it froni being withdrawn from its way in the draw-head. This draw-head is usually nolded in one piece; and it consists, mainly, of alower part, G, in which the link-cavity is formed, and an upper portion, H. In the rear recess or chamber, g, near the top of the upper portion of the drawhead, is pivoted a broad weighted tongue, T, which extends downward back of the linkcavity,. and is provided with a slide, s, which is pivoted to the tongue and extends forward into the slideway h, the length of the slide being such that when the tongue is swung forward said slide will cover the aperture Za, and when the tongue is pushed to the rear it will 6 5 uncover said aperture, leaving it free for the pin to pass downwardthrough the link. A cord or chain is attached to the couplingpin, and may be extended to the top of the car, so that the cars may be uncoupled by a brakeman on the car-roof. In uncoupling, the pin is raised until the link is free, and until the lower end of the pin is above the level of the slide s, which is at once pushed forward by the weighted tongue and affords a bearng or support for the pin.

The coupling is effeeted` automatically, the end of the link, as it moves toward the rear of the draw-head, pushing back the weighted tongue, which in turn draws the slide s froni under the coupling-pin, allowing the latter to fall and engage the link in the cavity of the draw-head below.

Having described this invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

In a car-coupling, the combinaton, with a link and pin, of a draw-head having a rear recess, and a slideway above the link cavity of a swinging tongue in said rear recess, and 0 a slide pivoted to said tongue and extending forward in the slideway to support the pin in set position for coupling, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix mysignature in 5 presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS SPARKS. witnesses:

JAs. A. DUNCAN, JOHN W. HARDING, 

